Tire/Wheel Bead Entrapment Remover

ABSTRACT

A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one or more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No.60/724,194, filed on Oct. 6, 2005.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to devices for mounting, inflating, andbalancing a tire relative a wheel and more particularly to automatedsystems for removing an entrapment between a tire bead and a bead seatof a wheel prior to balancing an inflated tire mounted to a wheel.

BACKGROUND

Tire/wheel assembly facilities may incorporate one or more automatedtire/wheel assembly lines for preparing vehicle tires and vehiclewheels. This process typically involves, amongst other operations: (a)the mounting of a tire onto a wheel, (b) the inflating of the tire tothe desired pressure, and (c) the balancing of the tire/wheel assembly.

Although automated tire/wheel assembling systems are known in the art,their use includes several drawbacks. One of these drawbacks includestheir inability to flush entrapments, such as, for example, airbubble(s), lubricant, or the like, which may be microscopic in size,residing between a tire bead and a wheel bead seat when a tire ismounted to the wheel. Once the entrapment is present, it is factoredinto the balancing of the tire/wheel assembly. Subsequently, if theentrapment is bled out (e.g. during vehicle operation) the tire/wheelassembly may become imbalanced.

Accordingly, a need therefore exists for a device that removesentrapments, such as for example, air bubble(s), lubricant, or the likeprior to balancing a tire/wheel assembly. As such, the present inventionprovides tire/wheel assemblies that may be balanced without entrapments,thereby increasing the potential that the tire/wheel assembly will notbecome imbalanced during normal operation of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a front view of a tire/wheel assembly positioned on anassembly line cart that is located about a tire/wheel bead entrapmentremover according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a partial cross-section view of the tire/wheel assembly andtire/wheel bead entrapment remover of FIG. 1A according to anembodiment;

FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the tire/wheel assembly according to lineIC of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D is another enlarged view of the tire/wheel assembly according toFIG. 1C;

FIG. 1E is another enlarged view of the tire/wheel assembly according toFIG. 1D;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a tire/wheel assembly positioned on anassembly line cart that is located about a tire/wheel bead entrapmentremover according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-section view of the tire/wheel assembly andthe tire/wheel bead entrapment remover of FIG. 2A according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a tire/wheelassembly and a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover according to a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the tire/wheel assembly and the tire/wheel beadentrapment remover of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged top view of the tire/wheel assembly and thetire/wheel bead entrapment remover of FIG. 4A according to encircledportion 4B;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the tire/wheel assembly and a tire/wheel beadentrapment remover according to a fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 5B is an enlarged top view of the tire/wheel assembly and thetire/wheel bead entrapment remover of FIG. 5A according to encircledportion 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tire/wheel assembly is shown generally at 10 and a tire/wheel beadentrapment remover is shown generally at 100 and 200 in FIGS. 1A, 1B and2A, 2B, respectively, according to an embodiment. Bead entrapmentremovers, in general, are also known in the art as “bead seaters” or“bead seating devices.” As illustrated, the tire/wheel assembly 10includes a tire 12 and a wheel 14 that are positioned on an assemblyline cart 50.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A, the tire/wheel bead entrapment remover100, 200 may include a base portion 101, a locking and retaining device103 for locking and retaining the cart 50 to the base portion 101, aplurality of vertical support arms 105 extending from the base portion101, a horizontal support portion 107 supported by the plurality ofvertical support arms 105, a plunger portion 109 that adjusts thepositioning of a first working assembly 102 a relative the tire/wheelassembly 10, a controller 113, a motor 115 driven by the controller 113to cause movement of the plunger portion 109, and a first vacuum device117 a driven by the controller 113 and connected by a hose 119 to thefirst working assembly 102 a. The plunger portion 109 moves the firstworking assembly 102 a from a disengaged position (FIGS. 1A, 2A) to anengaged position (FIGS. 1B, 2B) according to the direction of the arrow,Z, such that a circumferential perimeter 103 a of the first workingassembly 102 a comes into contact with and engages an outboardcircumferential perimeter surface 16 of the tire 12.

The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover 100, 200 also includes a secondworking assembly 102 b positioned on a support surface 52 of the cart50. As illustrated, an inboard circumferential perimeter surface 18 ofthe tire 12 is positioned on top of a circumferential perimeter 103 b ofthe second working assembly 102 b. The second working assembly 102 b isattached to a second vacuum device 117 b driven by the controller 113and connected to the second working assembly 102 b by a hose 121.

According to an embodiment, the working assemblies 102 a, 102 b aredesigned to circumferentially and, optionally, sealingly-engage theoutboard and inboard surfaces 16, 18 of the tire 12 to remove anyentrapments, such as, for example, microscopic air bubbles, B (FIG. 1C),that may be circumferentially entrapped in an area 20 proximate where anoutboard/inboard tire bead 22 of the tire 12 is seated within anoutboard/inboard bead seat 24 of the wheel 14.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the first and second working assemblies 102 a,102 b respectively include a platen 104 a, 104 b, an oscillating motor106 a, 106 b, and a hub engagement mechanism 108 a, 108 b. Theoscillating motors 106 a, 106 b may be any type of motor, such as, forexample, an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, or thelike that is designed to oscillate a working output shaft, press, clamp,or the like, which is shown generally at 110 a, 110 b. As illustrated,the working output shafts 110 a, 110 b are adapted to engage the hubmechanism 108 a, 108 b, which are effective, respectively, for providingforces according to the direction of arrows, F, F′ from the workingoutput shaft 110 a, 110 b to an outboard hub portion 26 a, and aninboard hub portion 26 b, respectively, of the wheel 14. If desired, thehub engagement mechanisms 108 a, 108 b and/or the shafts 110 a, 110 bmay be joined together, through an opening, O, of the wheel 14 and oneof the motors 106 a, 106 b.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, the outer peripheralportions 107 of platens 104 a, 104 b are designed to engage the outboardand inboard surfaces 16, 18, respectively, of the tire 12 to axially-fix(or confine) the positioning of the tire 12 from having any significantaxial movement relative an axially-movable positioning of the wheel 14.While the tire 12 is restricted from any axial movement by outerperipheral portions 107 of the platens 104 a, 104 b, the hub engagementmechanisms 108 a, 108 c and/or working output shafts 110 a, 110 b aredesigned to clamp and axially-move the wheel 14 relative the tire 12.

Once the plunger portion 109 moves the first working assembly 102 a toan engaged position as described above, the outer peripheral portions107 of platens 104 a, 104 b circumferentially engage the outboard andinboard surfaces 16, 18 of time 12 while leaving a space S, between afacing surfaces 112 a, 112 b and an outermost circumferential periphery28, 30 of the wheel 14. By leaving sufficient space S, axial movement ofthe wheel 14 relative the axially-fixed positioning of the platens 104a, 104 b, as described below, will not result in contact between theplatens 104 a, 104 b and the wheel 14.

According to an embodiment, the hub engagement mechanisms 108 a, 108 bare oscillated, respectively, according to the direction of arrows, F,F′, in accordance with forces provided from one or more of theoscillating motors 106 a, 106 b, respectively. The forces, according tothe direction of arrows, F, F′, may be substantially parallel to an axisof rotation, A-A, of the tire/wheel assembly 10. Accordingly, theworking output shafts 110 a, 110 b and/or hub engagement mechanisms 108a, 108 b work on and axially-oscillate the positioning of the wheel 14relative the axially-fixed positioning of the platens 104 a, 104 b thatengage the outboard and inboard surfaces 16, 18 of the tire 12.

Referring to FIG. 1D, as a result of the forces applied to the wheel 14according to the direction of the arrows, F, F′, the wheel 14 is moved(relative to outer peripheral portion 107 of platens 104 a, 104 b) tocause the outboard/inboard tire bead 22 to be moved away from theoutboard/inboard wheel bead seat 24. As a result, the forces applied inthe direction of the arrows, F, F′, entrapments, such as, for example,microscopic air bubbles, B (FIG. 3), may be released. Accordingly, thetire/wheel entrapment remover 100 is effective for removing anyentrapments, B, between the outboard/inboard tire bead 22 and theoutboard/inboard beat seat 24 prior to balancing the tire/wheel assembly10.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, another embodiment is disclosed. According tothe embodiment, the first and second working assemblies 102 a, 102 brespectively include a platen 104 a, 104 b, a platen moving device 206a, 206 b, and a hub engagement mechanism 108 a, 108 b. The tire/wheelbead entrapment remover 200 also includes working output shafts 110 a,110 b that are adapted to engage the hub mechanism 108 a, 108 b. Theplaten moving device 206 a, 206 b may include an electric motor, ahydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, or the like.

The hub engagement mechanisms 108 a, 108 b and working output shafts 110a, 110 b are designed to clamp and hold the wheel 14 in an axially-fixedposition as the platens 104 a, 104 b are designed to engage andaxially-move the positioning of the tire 12 relative the axially-fixedpositioning of the wheel 14. Accordingly, once the plunger portion 109moves the first working assembly 102 a to an engaged position asdescribed above, the outer peripheral portions 107 of platens 104 a, 104b circumferentially engage the outboard and inboard surfaces 16, 18 ofthe tire 12 while leaving a space S, between a facing surface 112 a, 112b of each respective platen 104 a, 104 b and an outermostcircumferential periphery 26, 28 of the wheel 14. By leaving space S,axial movement of the platens 104 a, 104 b and tire 12 relative theaxially-fixed positioning of the wheel 14, as described below, will notresult in contact between the platens 104 a, 104 b and the wheel 14.

According to an embodiment, the platens 104 a, 104 b are axially-moved(e.g. axially-oscillated) according to the direction of arrows, F, F′,in accordance with forces provided from the platen moving devices 206 a,206B, respectively. The forces according to the direction of the arrows,F, F′, may be substantially parallel to an axis of rotation, A-A, of thetire/wheel assembly 10. Accordingly, axial movement of the platens 104a, 104 b work on and axially-move/axially-oscillate the positioning ofthe tire 12 relative the axially-fixed positioning of the wheel 14.

Referring to FIG. 1D, the forces according to the direction of thearrows, F, F′, are applied by way of outer peripheral portions 107 ofplatens 104 a, 104 b to axially-move the tire 12 to result in theoutboard/inboard tire bead 22 being axially-moved away from theaxially-fixed wheel bead seat 24 of the wheel 14. As a result, theforces applied in the direction of the arrows, F, F′, to the tire 12causes the area 20, which may include entrapments, such as, for example,air bubbles, B, to be released. Accordingly, the tire/wheel entrapmentremover 200 removes any entrapments, B, between the outboard/inboardtire bead 22 and the outboard/inboard beat seat 24 prior to balancingthe tire/wheel assembly 10.

Accordingly, because of the relative movement caused between tire 12 andwheel 14, contact between the tire bead 22 and the wheel bead seat 24 isinterrupted. This interruption primarily is characterized by portions ofthe outboard/inboard tire bead 22 being temporarily pulled away from theseating surface of outboard/inboard wheel bead seat 24. By axiallymoving the tire 12 or wheel 14 while holding the other in anaxially-fixed relationship in this way, any entrapments, such as, forexample, air bubbles, B, that may be entrapped between the tire bead 22and the wheel bead seat 24 is/are released.

According to an embodiment, the first and/or second vacuum devices 117a, 117 b may be activated when the tire 12 or wheel 14 is axially-movedas described above. As seen in FIG. 1E, a vacuum, V, may be applied bythe first and/or second vacuum devices 117 a, 117 b to aid in theevacuation of entrapments, such as, for example, air bubble(s), B,lubricants, contaminants, or the like. Additionally, the vacuum, V, mayassist in the positive seating of the tire bead 22 in the wheel beadseat 24 prior to balancing the tire/wheel assembly 10. It will beappreciated that by applying the vacuum, V, in the chamber defined bythe platens (surfaces 112 a, 112 b) and the tire 12, any entrapped air,lubricant, or contaminants between the tire 12 and the facing surface112 a, 112 b of each respective platen 104 a, 104 b may be more easilyevacuated than in the case where no vacuum, V, is applied.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is showngenerally at 300 according to an embodiment. The tire/wheel beadentrapment remover 300 generally includes a rotary motor 302, a rotaryoutput shaft 304, and a hub engagement mechanism 306. The hub engagementmechanism 306 is effective for connecting the rotary output shaft 304 tothe outboard and inboard hub portions 26 a, 26 b of the wheel 14.

The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover 300 also includes at least onekneading wheel 308 a, 308 b. As illustrated, the kneading wheel 308 aengages the outboard surface 16 of the tire 12, and the kneading wheel308 b engages the inboard surface 18 of the tire 12. The kneading wheels308 a, 308 b are manipulated to engage the outboard and inboard surfaces16, 18, respectively, of the tire 12 generally proximate the area 20that defines the region of the tire bead 22 and wheel bead seat 24.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4A, a radial axis, R-R, extends throughthe kneading wheels 308 a, 308 b and defines the axis of rotation ofwheels 308 a, 308 b. An axle (not shown) may be aligned with the radialaxis, R-R. As illustrated, the radial axis, R-R, traverses a radialline, X, which is shown radially extending from the axis of rotation,A-A, of the tire/wheel assembly 10 (FIG. 4A).

According to an embodiment, the radial axis, R-R, is substantiallymisaligned with the radial line, X, and does not pass through the axisof rotation, A-A. By radially misaligning radial axis, R-R, with theradial line, X, the intersection of the radial axis, R-R, and the radialline, X, creates an offset angle, θ.

Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 4B, by setting the radial axis, R-R, of thekneading wheel 308 a, 308 b in the manner described above, whentire/wheel assembly 10 is rotated by the rotary motor 302, the kneadingwheel 308 a, 308 b provides a pulling or “kneading” effect, K, on theoutboard and inboard surface 16, 18 of the tire 12 proximate the region20 bounded between the kneading wheel 308 a, 308 b and tire bead. Bykneading, K, the outboard and inboard surface 16, 18 of the tire 12 inthis way during rotation of the tire/wheel assembly 10, the interfacesurfaces between the tire bead 22 and the wheel bead seat 24 istemporarily disrupted, thereby releasing any entrapments, such as, forexample, air bubbles, B, therebetween. Although not illustrated, vacuums117 a, 117 b may be included as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2A, 2B to aidin the removal of lubricants, contaminants, or the like in the area 20.Thus, the tire/wheel entrapment remover 300 removes any entrapmentsbetween the outboard/inboard tire bead 22 and the outboard/inboard beatseat 24 prior to balancing the tire/wheel assembly 10.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a tire/wheelbead entrapment remover is shown generally at 400 according to anembodiment. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover 400 is substantiallythe same as that shown and described in FIGS. 3-4B except that thewheel, which is shown generally at 408 a, 408 b includes additionalfunctionality and, in this embodiment, is referred to a wobble-wheel.

The wobble-wheel 408 a, 408 b is not snuggly fit to the radial axis,R-R, but rather, the wobble-wheel 408 a, 408 b is loosely-fitted aboutthe radial axis, R-R. By loosely-fitting the wobble-wheel 408 a, 408 brelative the radial axis, R-R, the wobble-wheel 408 b, 408 b is allowedto “wander” or “wobble” and deviate angularly +/−between bounds definedby deviation angle, +Δ, −Δ (FIG. 5B), relative to angle, θ. A tire/wheelassembly 10 is rotated by rotary motor 302, wobble wheel 408 a, 408 bnot only rotates about axis R-R (as described in conjunction with FIGS.4A and 4B), it also wobbles between +/−Δ. The deviation angle, +Δ,shifts the radial axis from that shown at, R-R, to a radial axis,R_(+Δ)-R_(+Δ), that correlates to an angle, θ_(+Δ). The deviation angle,−Δ, shifts the radial axis from that shown at, R-R, to a radial axis,R_(−Δ)-R_(−Δ), that correlates to an angle, θ_(−Δ).

Accordingly, the wobbling effect, W, will introduce, in addition tokneading action, a dynamic vibration, pulling, and other disruptiveforces, which is shown generally at KVP. The kneading, vibration, andpulling force, KVP, would otherwise not be present if wobble wheel 408a, 408 b was tightly affixed to the radial axis, R-R, as shown anddescribed in FIGS. 3-4B. Although the deviation angle, +Δ, −Δ, permitsthe radial axis, R-R, to the radial axis, R_(+Δ)-R_(+Δ) orR_(−Δ)-R_(−Δ), to change its orientation relative the radial line, X, itwill be appreciated that the deviation angle, +Δ, −Δ, may be controlledto not permit the radial axis, R_(+Δ)-R_(+Δ) or R_(−Δ)-R_(−Δ), to passthrough the axis of rotation, A-A.

By providing the disruptive forces, FVP, associated with the wobblingeffect, W, the outboard and inboard surface 16, 18 of the tire 12,during rotation of the tire/wheel assembly 10, temporarily disrupts theinterface between the tire bead 22 and the wheel bead seat 24, therebyreleasing any entrapments, such as, for example, air bubbles, B,therebetween. Although not illustrated, vacuum sources 117 a, 117 b maybe included as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2A, 2B to remove lubricants,contaminants, or the like in the area 20. Thus, the tire/wheelentrapment remover 400 removes entrapments between the outboard/inboardtire bead 22 and the outboard/inboard beat seat 24 prior to balancingthe tire/wheel assembly 10.

According to an embodiment, the tire/wheel bead entrapment removers 300,400 may include optional rollers 310, 312, 314 that can be used tosteady the overall movement of tire/wheel assembly 10 during rotation.Additionally, according to an embodiment, the rollers 310, 312, 314 canbe attached to a drive motor and can be used to rotate tire/wheelassembly 10. Although the rollers 310, 312, 314 are shown engaging theoutboard surface 16 of the tire 12, it will be appreciated that rollers310, 312, 314 may be applied alone or in combination proximate theinboard surface 18 of the tire 12.

The present invention has been described with reference to certainexemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention inspecific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments describedabove. This may be done without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and shouldnot be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention isdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by thepreceding description.

1.-34. (canceled)
 35. A method for processing an inflated tire-wheelassembly including one or more entrapments disposed proximate one ormore beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel,comprising the steps of: axially-moving one of the tire and wheel whileaxially-fixing the other of the tire and wheel for temporarilydisrupting said one or more beads seated within said one or more beadseats, and removing the one or more entrapments proximate the one ormore beads and one or more bead seats.
 36. The method according to claim35, wherein the removing step further comprising the step of: applying avacuum proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats. 37.The method according to claim 36, wherein, prior to the applying avacuum step, further comprising the steps of: sealingly-disposing atleast one working assembly adjacent at least one outer surface of thetire for defining one or more chambers; and applying said vacuum to theone or more chambers.
 38. The method according to claim 35, wherein theaxially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:axially-fixing the tire about an axis; and axially-moving the wheelabout the axis.
 39. The method according to claim 35, wherein theaxially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:axially-fixing the wheel about an axis; and axially-moving the tireabout the axis.
 40. An apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheelassembly including one or more entrapments disposed proximate one ormore beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel,comprising: means for axially-moving one of the tire and wheel whileaxially-fixing the other of the tire and wheel for temporarilydisrupting said one or more beads seated within said one or more beadseats, and removing the one or more entrapments proximate the one ormore beads and one or more bead seats; and at least one working assemblyconnected to said means.
 41. The apparatus according to claim 40,wherein the means includes: at least one an oscillating motor, whereinthe at least one oscillating motor is connected to the at least oneworking assembly.
 42. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein theat least one working assembly is disposed adjacent at least one outersurface of the tire to define one or more chambers, wherein theapparatus further comprises: means for applying a vacuum to the one ormore chambers.
 43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein themeans for applying a vacuum includes: at least one vacuum apparatusconnected to the at least one working assembly.
 44. A method forprocessing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or moreentrapments disposed proximate one or more beads of a tire seated withinone or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising the steps of: disposingone or more kneading devices adjacent one or more outer surfaces of thetire; and kneading a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of thetire with the one or more kneading devices for temporarily disruptingsaid one or more beads seated within said one or more bead seats, andremoving the one or more entrapments proximate the one or more beads andone or more bead seats.
 45. The method according to claim 44, whereinthe one or more kneading devices includes one or more kneading wheels,wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each of theone or more kneading wheels, wherein the kneading step further comprisesthe step of: permitting one or more of the kneading wheel axes ofrotation of each of the one or more kneading wheels to angularly deviatefor permissively-wobbling the one or more kneading wheels.
 46. Themethod according to claim 44 further comprising the step of: rotatingthe tire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the kneading step isresponsive to the rotating step.
 48. An apparatus for processing aninflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more entrapments disposedproximate one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more beadseats of a wheel, comprising: a rotary output shaft connected to thewheel; and means for kneading a portion of one or more outer surfaces ofthe tire for temporarily disrupting said one or more beads seated withinsaid one or more bead seats, and removing the one or more entrapmentsproximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats.
 49. Theapparatus according to claim 48, wherein the means includes: one or morekneading wheels disposed adjacent said one or more outer surfaces of thetire, wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each ofthe one or more kneading wheels
 50. The apparatus according to claim 49,wherein the means further includes permitting one or more of thekneading wheel axes of rotation of each of the one or more kneadingwheels to angularly deviate for the purpose of: permissively-wobblingthe one or more kneading wheels.
 51. The apparatus according to claim48, wherein the rotary output shaft provides: means for rotating thetire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.